Come join us on The Halloween Challenge through October 31, 2013. Think of the amazing things we can accomplish in 8 weeks!!! The rules are: No Rules! Feel free to join during any stage of this challenge!!!

Pick your own personal challenge based on whatever is important to you! and come report in whenever it suits you. Some will have a specific weight loss as a goal and some of us will have goals based only on desirable behaviors. We are all at a different place on this journey A goal could be as simple as coming in to post .. Think outside the box. What do **you** need to keep you going?

I'm in!!
I am a long time lurker and have posted a couple of times but haven't started and stuck to a plan. My friend has lost so much weight doing LC and she and I just decided last night to help each other so this was perfect timing.
My goals for the next 8 weeks is to be able to fit comfortably in my Halloween dress that I made 5 years ago (which is 1 size too small). It doesn't have to be perfect but if i can zip it without sucking it in I would be happy. Even if I don't meet that goal.. just TRYING to would be a major improvement
Halloween here we come!!

I am in too. I was here a couple of years ago and lost 110# total with LC. Sadly, most of the weight has come back along with the associated health issues. I have had difficulty getting on and staying on plan. When I lost the weight before I was able to stick to it for about a year and a half with very few cheats. I was very motivated to get off insulin. Now I may need to go back on insulin. I must get my health issues under control.

So...my goal for now is just to stick to LC. No weight loss goals for now. I just want to feel better. I am looking for a new job because my current job is just too physically demanding at this weight. Sigh....I have a job interview on Thursday and I even though I am very good at what I do, I am afraid my weight will be a deterrent to being hired.

Welcome back Mary.
I am in with you all until Halloween. I may need to think up a costume!
I reached a new low weight this morning, so I am taking that as a good omen!

I had one week (my second week of a strenuous field course, strenuous for a woman of my "mature" years) that I veered off plan a bit. But I am cutting myself a break as I still did pretty good under the circumstances. Disappointed though that I drank a bit of wine at a picnic and drank a bottle of wine one night after that. But I've not had anything to drink for three weeks, so I think I've dodged the bullet of falling back into old habits. But I'll leave "no drinking" at the top of my list for the next two months.

Bella, I love my wine too. I am going to try very hard to limit it as it makes me care less about good food choices. Will be difficult to do this weekend, as we are traveling with some couples my DH works with and we will be visiting a few wineries. I will limit it to a few sips of dry merlot or chardonnay.

Wineries are hard to visit without tasting, Kim -- not to say a bit boring.

Actually, my recent "slip" started with a winery visit, but what got me was purchasing wine for gifts. Not a bad thought, but I never gave the third bottle away. ~frowny~

Think of yourself as a wine taster -- going for the taste as much or more than the alcohol. A couple of years ago I hosted two wine-featured fund-raisers and managed not to drink. So it is possible even for me. It is easier for me to avoid completely, than to have just a bit.

I will be in this challenge too. My goal will be the same as Labor Day(End of Summer) Challenge. Stay on plan and lose 1 to 2 pounds per week! That doesn't sound like a lot for some but at 58, it's hard girls.

My math was off in last challenge. I thought I was going to get to 10,000 average steps a day for the month, but instead walked over 100 miles which amounted to 8,200 steps a day. Now that I know I need to get to 300,000 steps for the month of September, I will use that as my target and keep track in my Ipad where I write down my food plan for the day. Since June 1st, I have walked over 300 miles. I don't own a fitbit but if I'd get a badge it might be worth it. What is the badge all about, Eliza?

My goal as far as my weight is to stay in the range of 148-152. Originally I wanted to set it at 145-155 but my counselor suggested to make it smaller. I figure if I keep eating the same amount if food either, I will stop losing or more food will be added. I can flex my food to have more by just eating bacon or greek yogurt made from cream (Cabot). So that is my first choice rather than add more food. These are luxury problems thankfully. I am very grateful I hung in there and didn't give up when things slowed down.

Good morning everyone! I got invited to an impromptu card party last night. I did snack on some cheese and nuts (Not great) but did manage to turn down the wine and mixed drinks. Also took my friend out to dinner for her birthday before the card party and had a chicken cobb salad. Ditched the breadstick.

Had a horrible carb withdrawal headache, better today. I just wish that our lives did not revolve so much around food related activities. Sigh....

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

BTW- I was down 2 lbs. this morning!! I think I actually I lost on vacation and it's showing up now by losing fluid built up from riding. I've never(this time around) lost that much in one day. I ate LC about 9 years ago and lost faster due to age and less health problems.

I hope that this week will be a better week for me.... I have stalled out this week... after losing 13 pounds the first two weeks.... but to be honest... I have not eaten really clean for most of this week... but starting strong today..... know that I have to up my exercise... I do water aerobics usually everyday.. and love it.. but have to do my walking tape ... I know that if I blend clean eating and exercise that it really does work for me... and the pounds drop off......

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

I'm in also! My goal will be 1-2 pounds a week like Jan.
I have some Fall blouses and sweat shirts I want to fit into.
My first goal is to see the 270's!!! Right now I am sitting
At 286.
WTG Jan!!! Losing on vacation is great!!!
Good luck to everyone!!

Paw, I have a granddaughter named Abby and a son named Derek. It is common to not lose for a bit after the rapid loss of the first 2 weeks. Has happened to me more times than I want to admit to.

Oncloud, thanks. I am proud of me too. Just got back from the mall, took my 20 yr old shopping for clothes for his athletic training rotation. Of course he wants to eat at the food court. Managed to find a grilled chicken salad with ranch. Really wanted the Chinese food! So, a minor victory.

Jazlyn, having lots of LC food in the house is a challenge for me too. I prepped some food on Saturday so I can have some ready to heat LC meals. Hopefully that helps prevent poor choices when I get hungry.

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

Hi everyone, It was quiet today for us. Went hiking in a local park with DH this morning just before the clouds let loose, but the rains felt so good. It got us about 1/4 mile from our car. It has been real humid for NH.

After lunch and more rains, we went for a walk in our neighborhood. I made it to 12,000 steps today. I figure I better take it while I can because some days it will only be 6-7k.

Did some cooking for DH today. Made him a big pot of Goat (you heard me right) & rice soup with lots of veggies. He is on a low fat kick after his health scare this summer. Goat is low in fat. And it tastes pretty good. Found it surprisingly in our local market. He doesn't like fish so this was the next best thing. I roasted some of the frozen rutabaga squares that our local market sells. I add cinnamon and truvia sprinkled on top and they are almost like having dessert.

Have to return to work tomorrow after being away on vacation for a while. Yuk! But feel blessed to have a job.

I so look forward to wearing cute clothes. I do not like the look of the plus size clothing. Finally my head is totally into this .
Thank you Mary for getting us started. It sounds like we all have similar goals. Halloween, here we come!!